Jessica Ennis-Hill sets sights on 2015 return to action

Jessica Ennis-Hill sets her sights on a return at the end of 2015, with the aim of defending her Olympic title in Rio.

Last Updated: 22/05/14 8:34am

Jessica Ennis-Hill: Expecting first child in July

The 28-year-old is pregnant, with her baby due in July, and will miss this summer's Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

"It's very difficult to set a plan in stone at this point, I have to take it as it comes for the next few weeks and months and be very careful when I build back into full training," said Ennis-Hill, who has floated the idea of specialising in the 100m hurdles if her heptathlon return does not go to plan.

"I've got to make sure I do that properly to avoid injuries and setbacks.

"Hopefully come the end of next year I'll be back into the full swing of things, a full programme, pretty much as I was before.

"It's just taking it step by step and working with the coaches and people around me to make sure I'm where I need to be."

Ennis-Hill said she had spoken to other elite sportswomen who returned to competitive action after having children, including skeleton rider Shelley Rudman, an Olympic silver medallist, who won the sport's World Championship in 2013 after giving birth to her daughter in 2007.

Advice

"I think it's so different for everyone, everyone has different experiences," added Ennis.

"There are lots of different sportspeople that go away, have children and come back to their sport, but everyone does different events, and heptathlon is a very different event in itself.

"I've taken advice from other people who have gone through it, through their events, but it's going to be very specific and individual to me, and it's a journey I have to go on myself I think.

"I've spoken to Shelley Rudman and she's given me advice on the things she was doing when she was pregnant.

"She came back to become world champion, so it's nice to be able to speak to people who have gone away from their sport, then come back and been successful again.

"It's reassuring to know people can do it and have shown it's possible.

"But it's a huge challenge, it takes time and a lot of effort and sacrifice.

"If you've got the support of people around you, hopefully that will make things a bit easier."